Browser Wars

I always did like the Browser Wars ;)Luke Spyglass: “You fought in the browser wars?”NCSA Mosaic: “I was once a web browser the same as your father.”Luke Spyglass: “My father didn’t browse the web. He was a finger server at the community college.”NCSA Mosaic: “That’s what your Uncle told you. He didn’t hold with your father’s ideals. He thought he should stay home. Not gotten involved.”Luke Spyglass: “I wish I had known him.”NCSA Mosaic: “He was a cunning application, and the best downloaded in the galaxy. I understand you’ve become quite a good downloader yourself. And he was a good friend. For over a thousand days the W3C protected the web. Before the dark times. Before the Empire”Luke Spyglass: “How did my father die?”NCSA Mosaic: “A young web browser named Internet Explorer, who was a derivative of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Emporer hunt down and destroy the W3C standards. He betrayed and murdered your father. IE was seduced by the Dark Side of the internet.”Luke Spyglass: “The internet?”NCSA Mosaic: “Yes, the internet is what gives a web browser his power. It’s an energy field created by all connected computers. It surrounds us. Penetrates us. Binds the world together. Which reminds me. Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your Uncle wouldn’t allow. He thought you’d follow NCSA Mosaic on some idealistic crusade.”Luke Spyglass: “What is it?”NCSA Mosaic: “It is open source browser source code. The weapon of a web browser. Not as random or clumsy as a closed source. An elegant idea for a more civilized age.”NCSA Mosaic: IE was a good friend.NCSA Mosaic: When I first knew him, your father was already a great application. But I was amazed how strongly the Internet was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a browser. I thought that I could instruct him just as well as Lynx. I was wrong.Luke Spyglass: There IS still standards compliance in him. I’ve felt it.NCSA Mosaic: He more Microsoft’s interpretation of W3C standards now than compliant; twisted and evil.Luke Spyglass: I can’t do it, Mosaic.NCSA Mosaic: You cannot escape your destiny. You must face Internet Explorer again.Luke Spyglass: I can’t kill my own father.NCSA Mosaic: Then Microsoft has already won. You were our only hope.Luke Spyglass: Lynx spoke of another.NCSA Mosaic: The other he spoke of is your twin sister.Luke Spyglass: But I HAVE no sister.NCSA Mosaic: Hmm. To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden from your father when you were born. The Emperor knew, as I did, if IE were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason why your sister remains safely anonymous.Luke Spyglass: Opera! Opera’s my sister.NCSA Mosaic: Your codebase serves you well. Bury your threads deep down, Luke. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor.